Azernews.Az

The OSCE mediators brokering a settlement to the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict believe the situation on the Armenia-Azerbaijan frontline remains tense and plan to monitor the area for ceasefire violations.
"The ceasefire violations have become regular during the past few days and necessitates holding an urgent crisis monitoring," Matthew Bryza, the US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group (MG) said.
Bryza told a Monday news conference in Yerevan, which reviewed the group`s visit to the region, that continuing ceasefire violations were alarming and clarification of what is occurring is necessary.
Andrjej Caspzyk, the OSCE chairman`s special envoy, did not rule out that this monitoring would begin within days.
Caspzyk recently told the press that during the past year 25 people have been killed on the frontline between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops as a result of ceasefire violations. He did not specify which side was responsible for the clashes.
Armenia and Azerbaijan waged a war over the mountainous region in the early 1990s, which claimed some 30,000 lives and displaced about one million Azerbaijanis. Armenia has been occupying over 20% of Azerbaijan`s internationally-recognized territory since then. The ceasefire accord was signed in 1994, but Armenian armed forces have been repeatedly breaching the ceasefire along the frontline.
The purpose of the co-chairs` visit to the region was to discuss with the parties those issues stemming from the November 2 declaration and to map out further steps toward reaching a solution to the long-running dispute.
The mediators met with President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov last Thursday. Upon completing talks in Baku, they left for the Armenian capital Yerevan, followed by their visit to Upper Garabagh on Saturday. On Monday, the diplomats again headed to Yerevan where they met with President Serzh Sarkisian.
Bryza said the co-chairs` visit to the region was successful and constructive, adding that the environment of "mutual understanding and mutual respect" was increasing between Presidents Aliyev and Sarkisian.
The diplomat said a positive atmosphere was emerging, which the co-chairs should capitalize upon. He added that the key objective now was to avoid factors that could potentially harm the road covered in the peace process so far and derail efforts aimed at easing tension in the relations between Baku and Yerevan.

Timing of ministerial set
A date has been set for the next meeting between the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers to discuss the Garabagh settlement. Elmar Mammadyarov and Eduard Nalbandian will hold talks on the eve of the OSCE Foreign Ministers Council meeting, to take place in Helsinki December 4-5, the Russian co-chair, Yury Merzlyakov, announced.
Merzlyakov said the mediators hoped they would also be able to arrange a meeting between the two countries` leaders, but the venue and timing of the presidential talks were unknown at this point.
He emphasized that "no one was trying to artificially prolong" the process of resolving the Garabagh conflict. He expressed disappointment that the dispute has remained unresolved since Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire accord in 1994.
"But I am hopeful that we will now be able to reach the goal that hasn`t been accomplished over 14 years," he said, adding that the negotiating process would be accelerated while avoiding hastiness.
Regarding the outcome of the mediators` talks with the leader of the self-proclaimed Upper Garabagh republic, Bako Saakian, Merzlyakov said that without the participation of the Armenian community of the region it would be impossible to set the stage for a settlement to the conflict.
Also, French co-chairman Bernard Fassier, said the Upper Garabagh regime was not estranged from peace talks. Armenian media quoted Fassier as saying that in the current course of negotiations the self-proclaimed republic was contributing to efforts aimed at reaching a solution.
"At times, people think that Upper Garabagh has been alienated from the process. What does this mean? The reasons for our frequent visits here are not just to try the highly-appreciated Garabagh cuisine or drink mulberry vodka. We come here to work with your leadership," Fassier told reporters in Khankandi, the center of the occupied republic.

Territorial integrity
The US co-chair has refuted his earlier statement that Armenia must return Azerbaijan`s territories.
During a news conference in Yerevan, Matthew Bryza did not refrain from using degrading rhetoric against the Azerbaijani media.
"The media in Azerbaijan interprets everything in a one-sided manner, whether it is politics or agriculture.
"I don`t remember what language my interview was in - Russian or English. But my words were translated at least twice, or re-translated," Bryza said.
According to Bryza, the status of Upper Garabagh cannot be determined unilaterally and the positions of both parties to the conflict should be taken into account in dealing with the issue.
"It is possible that a vote will take place in Garabagh at some point, but it may never happen - I just don`t know. The presidents have to come to an agreement on the matter. As a co-chair, I can`t dictate when this will happen and on what conditions," Bryza said.
As for the possible stationing of Russian peacekeepers in the conflict zone, the US diplomat said this was unlikely.
"Neither side currently wants this. On the other hand, the following principle has always been in place: if peacekeepers are stationed in the region, they cannot be pulled in from co-chairing or neighboring countries."